The 20th June will see the first edition of Pitch in the Plane, an innovative startup competition which takes place over the Atlantic Ocean, between Paris and New York! With the idea being conceived for the 3rd edition of La French Touch Conference and organized in partnership with OpenSkies, the competition will offer 6 French startups the opportunity to pitch to a panel of international investors, including Axelle Lemaire, Secretary of State in charge of the digital sector and the sponsor of La French Touch Conference!

Grayling France has been accompanying La French Touch Conference, an international event for the promotion of French startups since its creation in 2014. This event aims to build bridges between France and entrepreneurial ecosystems all over the world. This year, La French touch Conference and OpenSkies, a subsidiary of British Airways which specializes in Paris-New York route, will make history and launch Pitch in The Plane.

Pitch in The Plane is a unique startup competition with an unconventional format. The 6 chosen startups will have the opportunity to pitch to an international panel of investors during a flight from Paris to New York on the 20th June, in time with the 3rd edition of La French Touch Conference in New York on the 21st and 22nd June. Two cabins entirely reserved for Pitch in The Plane will welcome6 chosen startups and 6 panel members for a competition which will take place over the Atlantic Ocean.

Gael Duval, founder of La French Touch Conference and CEO of JeChange.fr, said: “We are excited to team up with OpenSkies in organizing Pitch in The Plane, a unique competition which is a great opportunity for Startups in their early stages to pitch in front of a jury of experts. We are looking to build bridges between France and the US and this competition between Paris and New York is a testimony to that”.

The Competition will take place on board an OpenSkies Boeing 757. The British Airways’ subsidiary, will privatize the Biz Bed cabin (with 20 seats on two rows, inspired by The British Airways’ know-how) and the Prem Plus cabin (28 seats on two rows) for the occasion.

Patrick Malval, CEO of OpenSkies, explains the reasoning behind the partnership between La French Touch Conference and OpenSkies: “Links between Paris and New York are essential, and we are delighted to be contributing to their reinforcement through this partnership with La French Touch Conference. Since our founding in 2008, we have functioned like a startup within British Airways, which allows us to offer a service to our clients that is both premium and personalized at the same time. These reasons, alongside the setup of our airplanes, with two cabins being dedicated to Pitch in The Plane, make OpenSkies the perfect partner to help organize this event.”

Rémy Debrant, Director of Grayling France, also commented: “We are very happy that our client OpenSkies is partnering with La French Touch Conference for Pitch in The Plane, a world premiere. As the partner of a large number of Internet startups from the outset (Google, Lastminute.com, Seloger.fr, Voyage Privé, Vente Privée, sefaireaider.com…), Grayling has also been accompanying La French Touch Conference since its first edition in 2014, and we will do everything to make sure both the Pitch in The Plane and the 3rd edition of La French Touch Conference are a true success.”

Grayling Team

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